Metal shelving



April 12, 1960 w. G. WINEMAN, JR

METAL SHELVING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1954 INVEN TOR.

il W/emw/Jjr ATTORNEYS United States Patent O METAL SHELVING Walter G.Wineman, Jr., Sebewaing, Mich. Application December 9, 1954, Serial No.474,261

10 Claims. (Cl. 211--147) This invention relates to metal shelving andmore particularly to what is known as commercial shelving, which is arugged, rigid type having provision for a number of shelves which may bespaced adjustably thereon.

Among the various objects of the invention is the provision of aplurality of shelf frame units detachably connected end-to-end and fromwhich any one unit can be detached and removed without displacement orremoval of the adjacent units.

Another object of the invention resides in the provi sion of simple,practical and unique connecting means for securing the units inend-to-end aligned relation.

Still a further object is to provide a simple, rigid shelving unitformed of standard, pre-fabricated structural shapes and sections, andprovide means for releasably connecting these units in abuttingend-to-end relation.

A further object is to provide shelving units which are of ruggedconstruction for holding either a single shelf or a plurality thereofand adapted for use in supporting both heavy and light parts used infactories and commercial buildings in general. a ..A further objectstill is to design simple, practical, easily operable, retractablelocking means for securing the units together whereby a very quickassembly and a very quick demountability of the shelves from the cornerposts and the adjacent shelf is provided.

With the above and other objectsin View, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and, moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and

.in disassembled, unlocked relation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the various parts inassembled relation preparatory to being locked; and

Fig. 4 is a view showing the parts in locked relation.

Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a row of units arranged inend-to-end relation, the arrows indicating the direction in which theindividual units are removable from the unit line.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view showing one of the units.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the wedge plate.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which I have shown ashelf unit construction and the units arranged in end-to-end relation,and inasmuch as each unit is exactly the same, a description of one unitwill sutfice for all.

ice

Each of the shelf units comprises an end frame E including a pair ofspaced apart corner posts 10 formed with opposed, laterally projectingflanges 11 to which vertically spaced, horizontally disposed crossmembers 12 are welded or otherwise secured. A plurality of keyholeshaped openings 14 are provided in the body of the posts 10 as shown theenlarged area being indicated at 14a and the restricted area at 14b,these keyhole shaped openings forming the connection and support for theshelf frames F in a manner to be presently described.

The horizontally disposed shelf frames F detachably connect the endframes E, each shelf frame comprising a pair of longitudinalchannel-shaped members 15 connected by cross braces 16 and having awedge plate 17 welded or otherwise secured to the one end of each of themembers 15, and vertically spaced openings 18 and 19 are provided insaid wedge plate, a similar opening 20 being also provided in the wedgeplate and for a purpose to be presently described.

The exposed face of the plate 17 is angled at 1711 and a similar wedgeplate 21 having one angled face 21a is disposed in facial contact withthe angled face 17a of the plate 17, and this plate is formed withslotted openings 22 and 23 in alignment with the openings 18 and 19, andan opening 24 in alignment with opening 20 when the parts are in lockedposition, and I Wish to direct particular attention to the fact that thewedge plate 21 is vertically movable with relation to the plate 17 whenthe members are in unlocked position and the angled faces are oppositelydisposed to afford clearance between the shelf support and the endframes when the plate 21 is moved downwardly with relation to the plate17. An end plate 25 is secured on the opposite ends of the members 15and inverted keyhole slots 26 are provided therein as shown.

Lock pins 27 are welded to a horizontally movable backing plate 28, saidpins being accommodated in'openings 18 and 19 provided in the wedgeplate-17, thence projecting through slotted openings 22 and23 providedin the companion Wedge'plate =21, thence extending through the keyholeopenings 14 in the corner posts 10, and thence through openings 26 inthe end. plates 25, the ends of the locking pins being headed as at 29:.A relatively short locking pin P is also mounted in the locking plate28, the free end of said pin being accommodated in the opening 24 afterthe wedge plate 21 has been forced upwardly to bring the pin intoalignment with said openings and the backing plate moved horizontally toposition shown in Fig. 3, thus locking the plate 21 in raised position.The heads of pins 27 are of a size to permit passage through theenlarged portions of the keyholeslots 14 and 26, and thence serve, whenthe parts are-forced to locked position, to lock the parts in assembledrelation as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

It will be noted that the keyhole slots 26 in the end plates 25 aredisposed opposite to the slots 14in the corner posts 10 to permit thenecessary relative vertical movement when the units are beingdisassembled and also to hold them tightly in assembled relation whenassembled. 1 7

With the members in positionshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the workmanfirst brings them 'to assembled relation shown in Fig. 3 forcing thewedge plate 21 upwardly and then threading the free ends of the lockpins through the keyhole slots 14 and 26, and it will be noted that theend of the member 15 of the adjacent unit is higher than the end of themember on which the backing plate is mounted (see Fig. 3 of thedrawings); the members 15 and 25 are then forced downwardly so that theheaded ends 29 of the lock pins 27 enter and seat in the restrictedportions 14b and 26b of the keyhole slots, rigidly locking the membersin assembled relation.

Should it be desired to relocate any one or more of these individualassembled units, they can be removed from the unit line in direction asclearly indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. To remove, it is justnecessary to first raise the shelf frame 15 and 25 to release the heads29 of the pins 27 into the enlarged port-ions 14a and 26a of the keyholeslots, the backing plate 28 with pins 27 and P is then retracted orshifted horizontally to release wedge plate 21, and this plate is thenshifted downwardly to provide necessary horizontal clearance so that theunit can be-moved outwardly as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5 of thedrawings.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have perfecteda very simple, practical and rigid shelf unit which can be readily setup and assembled, in which a plurality of units may be placed in a linein end-to-end relation, and from which one or more of said units can beremoved without disassembling the remaining units in the line.

What I claim is:

1. A shelving structure comprising a plurality of units rcleasablysecured in end-to-end relation, each unit including an end frame havingconnected corner posts with keyhole slots therein, a shelf frame securedthereto, a stationary wedge plate with openings secured to one end ofthe shelf frame, a companion vertically movable wedge plate withvertical slots in facial contact with said stationary plate, an endplate having keyhole slots on the shelf frame of the adjacent unit, andhorizontally movable locking pins mounted on said first shelf frame andextending through the openings or slots in said movable wedge plate,post, and end plate, the free ends of said pins being headed for tightlysecuring the members in assembled relation.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which keyhole slots areprovided in the end plate and disposed opposite to the keyhole slots inthe corner posts to permit raising of the shelf frame to bring theenlarged portions of the keyhole slot into alignment to permithorizontal retraction of the locking pins from said end plate and cornerposts.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the angled faces of thewedge plates are in facial contact and the movable plate is providedwith slotted openings to permit vertical movement of said plate withrelation to the shelf frame.

4. A shelving structure comprising; longitudinally spaced posts, alongitudinally extending shelf for releasable connection between saidposts; means carried by said shelf including a movable part adjustableto connect said structure to an adjacent shelving structure, and meansfor locking said means in adjusted position and securing said shelf inposition between said posts.

' 5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said means carried bysaid shelf comprises a pair of opposed wedge plates in facial contact,at least one of which is movable in a plane transverse to the length ofsaid shelf and releasably connect an adjacent shelving structurethereto.

6. A shelving structure comprising; longitudinally spaced posts; alongitudinally extending shelf frame for releasable connection betweensaid posts; means carried by said shelf frame including a movable partadjustable to connect said structure to an adjacent shelving structureto permit wedging of the shelf frame between the posts, meansincorporated with the shelf frame and movable longitudinally having apart locking said adjustable means in adjusted position and anothermember releasably locking with one of said posts for securing said shelfframe to said post.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 in which said adjustable meanscomprises relatively movable wedges having faces in opposed contact, andsaid part comprises a pin movable longitudinally which enters openingsin both wedges and holds them in a particular relative positio'n.

8. A shelving structure comprising; spaced end frames includingconnected posts having vertically spaced, slotted openings therein,shelf frames having end plates releasably connected to said end frames,opposed wedge means having openings therein interposed between said endframe and each corner post, horizontally movable retractable lockingpins mounted on one shelf frame and extending through said openings insaid wedge means and slots in said corner posts, and lockinglyengageable with the end plates of an adjacent shelf frame, the wedgemeans comprising a wedge plate rigidly secured to the end of one shelfframe, and a companion vertically movable Wedge plate interposed betweenthe first wedge plate and the corner posts and mounted on said lockingpins.

9. A shelving structure comprising; spaced end frames includingconnected posts having vertically spaced, slotted openings therein;shelf frames releasably connected to said end frames; wedge meansinterposed between said shelf frame and each corner post; retractablelocking pins mounted on each shelf frame and extending through slots oropenings in said Wedge means and slots in said corner posts, andlockingly engageable with the adjacent shelf frame; the posts beingformed with oppositely disposed flanges; and an end plate connected tothe opposite ends of each shelf frame, and having keyhole slots thereindisposed reversely from the slots in the corner posts for lockingengagement with the locking pins in the adjacent shelf frame.

10. In a shelving structure comprising, spaced end frames includingconnected posts with vertically spaced slots therein, horizontallydisposed shelf frames releasably secured to said end frames, each shelfframe having an end plate on one end, said plate having a keyholeopening therein, the other ends having opposed wedge plates withslo'tted openings therein in facial contact, with one of said wedgeplates being vertically movable with relation to the other, ahorizontally retractable backing plate mounted on one of the wedgeplates, and provided with locking pins extending through the slottedopenings in the movable wedge plate, posts, and end plate of theadjacent unit for locking the members in assembled relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS918,039 Grundmann Apr. 13, 1909 950,989 Bowser Mar. 1, 1910 963,129Fleldman July 5, 1910 1,288,010 Isaac Dec. 17, 1918 1,715,983 BrandtJune 4, 1929 1,871,972 Fernstermaker Aug. 16, 1932 2,266,274 SchroederDec. 16, 1941 2,633,247 Young Mar. 31, 1953 2,639,043 Dunham May 19,1953 2,675,287 Sitler Apr. l3, 1954 a. main..-

